Holder and needle for knitting machines



July 4, 1933. LANGE 1,916,676

HOLDER AND NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 24, 1931 vz u 5\ 62INVEVNTOR.

George longs Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE LANGE; OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK HOLDER AND NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES I Applicationfiled September 24, 1931. Serial No. 564,767.

This invention relates to knitting machines and accessories therefor,and 1s partmularly directed to an improved holder and needletachablymounting the needle on the holder,

whereby in the event of breakage ofa needle the same may be replaced,thus obviating wasteof the holders, as in prior construction, whereinthe needle is rigidly embedded Within the holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved needle holdershaving means for preventing loosening of the needles even afterprolonged use, and means to align the adjacent holders whereby theneedles are maintained in even height entirely around the cylinder.

A still further object of this invention is to provide individualholders for the needles whereby said holders serve to define the spacesbetween the needles, thus insuring an equal spacing of the needlesentirely around the cylinder.

Another object of this invention is toprovide an improved holder of thecharacter de- 0 scribed which may be readily and easily stamped from anelongated strip of sheet metal, with high economy of manufacture, andwhich shall be strong andrugged in construction, and an improvedknitting needle easy to assemble therewith, and having means to preventturning of the needle with respect to the holder, which shall be easy toassemble or mount on the knitting machine cylinder,

and yet practical and eflicient to a high dem clamps 22 resting ,on saidsurface 21 and havree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention. accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will,

be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of whichthe scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

ln'the accompanying drawing, in which ed a knitting needle 12, embodyingthe invening the cylinder for rotation on a shaft. The

is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of thisinvention, I

Fig, 1 is a radial cross-sectional view of a portion of a cylinder of acircular knitting machine on which are mounted holders and needlesembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational outer view of the structure shown inFig.1;

Fig; 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-45 of Fig. 1, showingalso (in dotted?v lines) a portion of the needleprior to attachment tothe holder; f

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 4-14 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved knitting needle; and r lFig. 6 is a perspective view of my improved holder.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a cylinder of theusual type used in circular knitting machines, as for example,

the Thompkins machine. lldesignates my improved holders in each of whichis mounttion. The cylinder 10 comprises a vertical annular wall portion13 from which extend inwardly the spokes 14 provided with a suitablecentral bearing (not shown) for mountwall portion 13 of the cylinder isprovided adj acentthe top thereof with a flange 16 having a cylindricalsurface 39-and an upwardly and inwardly inclined undersurface 17Extending from the bottom of said annular cylindrical wall 13 outwardlytherefrom, is an annular stepped portion 19 and an outwardly extendingflange 20 having an upper surface 21. The holders 11 are mounted on thecylinder 10 by means of a plurality of sectional 90 ing throughopenings, 23 through each of which extends a stud screw 24 having ascrew threaded end portion 25 engaging the threads 26 of a screwthreaded opening formed in said wall 13. The clamps are placed in edgeto edge relation with respectto one another, and'are each provided withan inner upwardly and outwardly inclined surface 28,v an annular leatherstrip or liner 29 being interposed between the inclined surface 28 ofthe clamps 22 and the rear inclined edges of the holders, referred tohereinafter.

Each holder 11, shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawing, is madepreferably of sheet metal stock and may be stamped from an elongatedstrip of hard metal. The holder 11 is provided with an inner edgeportion adapted to contact the outer surface 36 of the cylindrical wallportion 13 below the inclined edge 17. Extending from said edge 35 isadownwardly and rearwardly inclinededge portion 37 adapted to contactsaid und-ersurface 17 of said flange 16. Extendin upwarly from said edgeportion 37 is a vertical edge portion 38 adapted to contact said outersurface 39 of said flange 16. Said holder 11 is further provided with arear vertical edge 40 substantially parallel tothe edges 35 and 38 andextending above the upper end of the edge 38 to form an extension 41,which may have an upper curved edge 42. It will be noted that theportion 41 of the holder extends above the upper edge of the cylindricalwall portion 13 of the cylinder 1.0. The

; holder 11 is further formed with a rear, clownwardy and inwardlyinclined surface 30 extending from the vertical edge 40 and adapted tobe contacted by the leather strip or liner 29. The holder may also beformed with a horizontal bottom edge 43 and an ear 44 bent to one sidethereof, and inclined to the plane of the holder, as clearly shown inFig. 6, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The holder mayalso be provided with a transverse circular through opening 45 and acircular recess 46 concentric with said opening 45, on one side of saidholder only, forming an annular flange 47 having surface 48, which formsthe bottom of the recess, and a cylindrical surface 50. Formed on saidside of the holder 11 is an enlongated straight groove 49 substantiallytangent to and communicating with said recess 46. Said groove 49 isparallel to edges 35 and 38 of the holder, and may be of substantiallysquare cross-section. The knitting needle 12 shown in Fig- 5,

i may have the usual shank 51 and downwardly extending curved beardportion 52 at the upper end of the shank. At the lower end of the shank,however, is provided a curved looped portion 53 extending substantiallyin the plane of the beard 52 and opposite the latter. The needle 12 maybe mounted on the holder 11 by merely forcing the same vithin the groove49 and recess 46. It will be noted that the loop portion 53 may befitted into the recess 46 to rest against the surface 48 and pressoutwardly againstthe cylindrical surface 50. As illustrated in ,Fig. 3the diameter of the loop portion 53 be somewhat in excess of thediameter of the recess 46. The dotted lines in Fig. 3

show said loop portion in cross-section before pressing the same lntothe recess. The curved surfaces of the loop, permits the same to beconstricted upon pressing the same inwardly into the recess, thusproviding a strong outward pressure within the recess whereby the needlemay be held within the groove and recess by a tight frictional fit.

removed from the holder by merely engaging an upper portion of theneedle and pulling the same away from the holder. It will be noted thatthe loop portion of the needle serves to prevent turning movement ofthe, needle with respect to the holder. sired, instead of loop portion53, any other suitably shaped foot-extension may be provided at thelower end of the needle shank.

Each holder preferably mounts one needle. so that the holders serve tospace the needles? Since the holders may be made from a single strip ofmetal they may be readily made of similar thickness thus insuringuniform spacing of the needles. Preferably the hold:

ers taper or increase in thickness radiallyoutward so that said holdersmay be mounted.

entirely around the cylinder and contact one another. In mounting theholders with the needles on the machine, each holder serves.

to press the needle of the next adjacent holder within its groove toprevent looseness of the needle, the diameter of the needles'beingsubstantially equal to the depth of the groove 49 and recess 46, forthis purpose.

The bent ear or extension 44 of each er serves to engage the tab of thenext adjacent holder,to insure maintenance of all of the holders on anequal level, even if the leather liner 29 varies in pressure against thehold-.

ers.- Thus, if the liner does not press against one holder, as hard asagainst another, the next adjacent holder will serve to lift the firstholder by means of the interengaging cars 44 whereby all of the holderswill be pressed upwardly against the undersurface 17 of the flange 16.Obviously, if desired, the ear extensions 44 may be formed on theinclined edge 30, it being a dominant feature of'the invention to haveeach holder en: I gage the holder next adjacent thereto and pressupwardly thereon.

It will now be understood that with my im proved construction, loosenessof the needles is effectively prevented, even after prolonged use,notwithstanding pressure on the needles during the knitting operation.Furthermore, should one of the needles break, said needle is replaceableand the holder is not wasted, thus saving the expense of a new holder,Since each'needle is mounted on a holdseparate holder, it is notnecessary, as in constructions used heretofore, wherein a plu rality ofneedles are embedded in the holder, to discard the latter, when only oneof the needles break, thus effecting further economy in use.Furthermore, my improved holder obviates the use of soft alloys, or thenecessity of molding operations, as in prior. constructions.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, each holder 11 may be formed with a notch inthe rear wall 40 thereof, having a curved inner edge, for receiving anelongated coiltension spring 62 extending entirely about the cylinderand engaging all of the holders to retain the same against falling outwhen one or more of the holders are being removed. Thus when one of theclamps 22 is loosened for the purpose of replacing a holder or needle,the spring 62 retains adjacent holders in place. When the spring 62 isemployed, the'tab or car 44 may be omitted since the spring serves alsoto press the holders against the cylinders and aligns said holders toretain the holders and knitting needles at a uniform level.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in theembodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A knittingmachine accessory comprising a substantially flat holder comprising asingle piece of metal having a recess in a side face thereof and aknitting needle frictionally engaging within said recess.

2. A knitting machine accessorycomprising a substantially fiat holderhaving an edge adapted to contact the cylinder of a knitting machine,and being provided with a groove in one side face thereof and a knittingneedle having a portion extending within said groove. 1

A knitting apparatus of the character described comprising a rotarycylinder having a flange formed with an annular undersurface, aplurality of needle holders mounted thereon, having portions engagingsaid undersurface, and means on each holder for pressing an adjacentholder against said undersurface. I

4-. In knitting apparatus of the character described, a circularcylinder having an outwardly extending flange formed with anundersurface, a plurality of holders each having an edge contacting saidundersurface, and an upwardly and outwardly inclined edge, a clamphaving means for pressing against said inclined edges, and a projectionon each holder adapted to contact an adjacent holder for pressing thesame against said undersurface.

5. A knitting apparatusof the character described comprising a pluralityof substantially flat holders contacting one another, one of saidholders having a groove on a face thereof, and a needle within saidgroove adapted to be retained within said groove by the next adjacentholder.

6. A knitting machine accessory comprising a flat holder made of asingle piece of metal having an edge, and being formed with a groove onone of the flat side faces thereof for frictionally receiving andretaining a portion of a knitting needle.

7. A holder for a knitting machine comprising a substantially flatmember having a groove in one face thereof adapted to re- V ceive aknitting needle, and an inclined tab extending therefrom adapted topress against the tab of a similar holder placed against said firstholder.

8. In combination, a flat holder made of a single piece of metal havinga circular recess, and. an elongated groove on one of the side faces ofsaid holder communicating with said recess, and a knitting needle havinga shank portion frictionally received within said groove, and a.circular portion extending from said shank received w1th1n said recess.

7 9. A knitting machlne comprising a cylindrical portion, a flat holderhaving an inner edge adapted to contact said cylinder, a needle having ashank portion, a beard at one end of said shank, and a foot extension atthe other end of said shanlg-said holder having a recess in aside facethereof frictionally receiving a portion of said shank and said footextension. V

10. A knitting machine comprising a cylindrical portion, a flat holderhaving an inner edge contacting said cylindrical por tion, a knittingneedle having a shank portion, a beard at one end of said shank portion,and a foot extension at the other end of said shank portion, said holderhaving a recess in a side face thereof for receiving a portion of saidshank portion and said foot extension, said beard and foot extensionbeing disposed in a common plane and oppositely to one another. I V

11. A knitting apparatus of the character described comprising aplurality of holders having contacting faces, one of said holders havinga groove on the faces thereof lying against the face of the nextadjacent holder, and a knitting needle within said groove.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE LANGE.

